Dr Tim Hillson was born in Edmonton, Alberta and grew up in rural Alberta. After earning a BA in psychology at the University of Alberta and an MA in clinical psychology at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), he received his MD degree at McMaster University in 1996. He went on to complete a residency in ophthalmology in Edmonton, Alberta, earning his FRCSC in 2001. He has been very busy practicing general ophthalmology in Orillia, performing over 40,000 eye surgeries since July 2001. He has been an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University since 2005. He is a Past Chair of the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Dr Hillson is married to Eileen; they live on a small farm just outside Orillia with their two gigantic dogs.  Their four grown children are frequent visitors.